chris-brashear

Chris Brashear and Jim Watson put on an old-time country music clinic. In studio on Nine Volt Heart.

Two legendary figures in old-time acoustic music joined me last night for a clinic in the history of traditional music. Jim Watson has been a key figure in old-time and country music since the late 1960’s with a stint in the Hollow Rock Stringband from Durham County, NC. Jim is the co-founder of the hugely influential Red Clay Ramblers where he spent 14 years and ten album releases. He was a member of NC based Green Level Entertainers as well as the Piedmont Melody Makers. His encyclopediac knowledge of this music is evident in his discussion of his influences and his long career.

Chris Brashear, multi-instrumentalist and local legend, plays in the Deep River Ramblers with Paul Kochanski and Jim Henry. They are the long-time house band for the Signature Sounds Songwriter series (going on 16 tributes to date). They feature the music of Bob Dylan and The Band’s “Basement Tapes” material at the Academy of Music on August 22. They play an opening set the next day at Arcadia Folk Festival, Easthampton on August 23. Chris has an amazing knowledge of the old-time and country catalog as well. Between Jim and Chris, I was overwhelmed with the stories and legacy that these talented musicians have contributed to. Both Chris and Jim were in Robin and Linda Williams’ Fine Group and the Piedmont Melody Makers (also featuring Cliff Hale and Alice Gerrard!)

We start the segment off with a Chris Brashear original “Oregon Country” followed by Jim’s request to play Sandy’s Fancy version of “Sally Anne Johnson”. The duo followed with their take on “Hard Road To Travel”. We checked out two Chris originals “April Promenade” with the Deep River Ramblers and “Lost Canyons” from his duo album with Peter McLaughlin. Jim and Chris play “This River Will Want to Run” and a spirited vesion of “West Virginia Rag”. We finish with Chris’ “21 On the Border” and Jim’s “Prairie Lullaby”. In between, we get a master class in storytelling through song. Their incredible back catalog together over six decades is deep and soulful. Give the segment from these master instrumentalists and singers.

Deep River Ramblers preview new release and upcoming Parlor Room show 11/14

The Deep River Ramblers are Chris Brashear, Jim Henry and Paul Kochanski. They’ll be appearing this Thursday, 11/14, at the Parlor Room with their friend; the legendary Jim Rooney. The band just finished their debut EP for release in the Fall but listeners can hear most of the songs this week at the show. The band visited in-studio to play some favorites such as “Deep River Blues” which opened the segment. This Doc Watson favorite is responsible for the band’s name and their origin story. Signature Sounds suggested a tribute to Doc Watson as part of a Back Porch Festival lineup and these valley veterans were amazing. Ten tribute shows later and they continue to be the house band for the series.

One of the series centered on the music of Nanci Griffith and featured Nanci’s good friend and producer Jim Rooney. Chris Brashear’s history with Rooney goes further back to his early album recorded in Nashville with Jim Rooney producing. Jim Rooney has received LifeTime Achievement Awards from both the International Bluegrass Music Association and the Americana Music Association. Jim is a great story-teller, author, singer, and picker. The night promises to be a very special one.

Ticket info at ParlorRoom.org